Pujara Confirms Ranji Trophy Return; Rahane Resigns as Mumbai Captain

Indian domestic cricket gears up for a fascinating season with two major developments on the same day – Cheteshwar Pujara confirming his return to the Ranji Trophy and Ajinkya Rahane stepping down as captain of Mumbai, though both veterans will continue as active players for their respective sides.

Pujara to Boost Saurashtra’s Campaign

The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) has confirmed that Cheteshwar Pujara will feature in the upcoming Ranji Trophy, which begins on October 15 with Saurashtra facing Karnataka in their opening fixture.

A senior SCA official welcomed the decision, highlighting Pujara’s experience-

“He has signalled his readiness to play in the upcoming Ranji season. It is, of course, good news for us as his experience will be a big advantage for the team.”

The 37-year-old, a veteran of 103 Tests for India, has restricted himself to red-ball cricket in recent years. In the previous season, Pujara scored 402 runs from seven matches at an average of 40.2, hitting one century and one fifty before Saurashtra’s exit in the quarterfinals against Gujarat.

Pujara’s last international appearance came in the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June 2023. Since then, he has been sidelined from the Indian Test squad and was recently overlooked for the Duleep Trophy, with West Zone selectors opting to focus on younger talent. However, Saurashtra hopes his return will be vital in their domestic campaign.

Rahane Hands Over Mumbai Leadership

While Pujara recommitted to Saurashtra, Ajinkya Rahane chose to step away from a leadership role. In a heartfelt statement, the 37-year-old announced his decision to resign as captain of the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team, stressing the need to nurture the next generation of leaders.

Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour.

With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role.

I remain fully committed to giving my best…

— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) August 21, 2025

“Captaining and winning championships with the Mumbai team has been an absolute honour. With a new domestic season ahead, I believe it’s the right time to groom a new leader, and hence I’ve decided not to continue in the captaincy role. I remain fully committed as a player and will continue my journey with Mumbai cricket to help us win more trophies,” Rahane shared.

Rahane’s captaincy record reflects both longevity and success. He led Mumbai in 70 matches across formats – including 25 first-class games, 19 List A matches and 26 T20s. Under his stewardship, Mumbai clinched their 42nd Ranji Trophy title in the 2023-24 season, and earlier, the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in 2022/23, where Rahane himself finished as the Player of the Tournament with 469 runs at a strike rate of 164.56. The title was successfully defended last season but under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy.

A Leader Beyond Domestic Cricket

Rahane’s leadership pedigree also extends to the international stage. He has captained India in three ODIs, two T20Is, and six Test matches, most memorably guiding the national team to historic victories at the MCG and Gabba during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia.

As the Ranji Trophy returns mid-October, Saurashtra will look to bank on Pujara’s reliability at the crease, while Mumbai begin a new chapter under fresh leadership after Rahane’s transition. With two stalwarts committed in different ways, the 2025 domestic season promises both experienced stability and opportunities for emerging talent.

                                               

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